A solution to the row over tuition fees – bring back maintenance grants- Debate

The cost of going to university has been widely debated and discussed in recent months. It’s now clear that the concerns raised by students, graduates and their families need to be addressed. At the same time, the debate needs to be grounded in evidence – we need to understand what the issues really are, and what is the best way forward in resolving them. The current undergraduate funding system in England is not broken, and the evidence supports this. It allows all those who are qualified and wish to enter higher education to do so – there are no arbitrary restrictions on student numbers. It is a socially progressive system and supports students from all types of backgrounds to enter university. It feeds the current and future demand for higher level skills, and this is essential for the UK’s economy to grow, be internationally competitive, and to raise living standards for all. Read More